ADMISSIONS

The School Counseling program accepts applications for fall and summer term only.

Application Deadlines

Fall Term . . . . . . . . July 28 at 5pm

Summer Term . . . June 2 at 5pm

Admits fall and summer terms only

Admission Requirements

University requirements:

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.

Applicants must meet one of the
testing requirements above. The Graduate School will accept a copy of a
current Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate as proof of having taken
the General Knowledge Test.

Three current professional letters of reference that speak to your qualifications for success in graduate school. Letters need to be on official letter head (if applicable) and must have an original signature (electronic signatures are not acceptable). Letters from relatives will not be accepted. Click here to learn how to add/change your references.

Applicants must complete a SOAR portfolio and interview with a SOAR Selection Team prior to admission. Please visit the SOAR program website for more information.

Candidates seeking admission to a state approved educator preparation programs must demonstrate mastery of general knowledge for admission to the program by providing passing scores of the GK, CLAST, NTE or GRE exams.

Students should be aware that admission into any graduate program is granted on a competitive basis. Students meeting minimum requirements may be denied admission based on such factors as program capacity or academic discretion. Likewise, students may be considered for admission as an exception if stated admissions criteria are not met.

THE PROGRAM

Program Overview

The Master of Education in School Counseling is one of the leaders in the National Initiative for Transforming School Counseling that leads to certification in school guidance counseling in the State of Florida. The School Counselors: Supporters of Academic Rigor (SOAR) program is a cohort program with 20-30 students selected annually. The program consists of 48 semester hours of core and major requirements. The amount of prerequisite course work will depend on the individual student’s educational background and ranges from 3-9 hours. Students will complete over 700 hours of supervised field experiences over three semesters.

Special Notes about the Program

An applicant who does not meet the stated criteria for admission to the school counseling program may request review of his/her application by submitting a letter detailing the reasons that an exception to the admission policy should be granted. This letter should be submitted to the School Counseling Program Director prior to the closing date for receipt of applications. The letter will become part of the application and be reviewed during the student selection process.

Certificate programs offered with the SOAR program are not eligible for financial aid except for students pursuing their initial teacher certification. Please visit the Financial Aid website for more information regarding eligibility.

UNF School Counseling program Supporters of Academic Rigor (SOAR) works closely in a community partnership with Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) and the surrounding counties. In the preparation program, graduate students serve as mentors to urban public school students at the middle and high school levels by participating in career and academic advising activities and providing fieldtrips to post secondary institutions. SOAR students educate, guide and encourage urban students concerning the attainability and benefits of furthering their education beyond high school through scholarships and financial aid information. DCPS also provides our SOAR students with opportunities to shadow and interact with experienced school counselors in working school settings. This partnership with our graduate students prepares them with invaluable experience for entering a career in school counseling. Tangible evidence of this partnership is a jointly funded school counseling position between the Duval County Public Schools and UNF for the purposes of supporting pre-service field experiences and transitioning students into the profession.